North Allegheny School Board changes budget adoption meeting to June 21

The North Allegheny School Board plans to give final approval to a 2022-2023 budget package of more than $191 million on June 21, according to school district spokeswoman, according to Brandi Smith.

The vote had been scheduled for June 15.

The budget will be discussed at a June 8 board meeting at 7 p.m., and the board will vote in special session on June 21 at 7 p.m. to adopt it.

The meetings will be held at the Central Administration Office Board Room.

The proposed budget calls for an increase in the school district’s property tax rate from 19.14 mills to 19.79 mills.

The school board voted 5-4, on May 11 to approve the proposed package.

Those who voted for the proposal were school board directors Leslie Britton Dozier, Paige Hardy, Kevin Mahler, board president Richard McClure and Elizabeth Warner. Those opposed were vice president Libby Blackburn, Marcie Crow, Dr. Vidya Szymkowiak and Shannon Yeakel.

The tax increase proposed would reflect a cost of $123.78 annually, or $10.31 monthly, on the average district home cost of $249,634, according to Kermit Houser, assistant director of finance and treasurer.

Crow argued that the administration should be more aggressive in finding areas to cut. With a difficult economy after the pandemic, many families are already struggling.

An increase in taxes could aid future expenses, including expected renovations on the senior and intermediate high school facilities, which are currently being assessed, according to Houser.

The school district anticipates revenue of $191,714,156 and expenses of $191,031,917 for 2022-2023, according to the budget presentation. Salaries and benefits make up 75 percent of the budget.

The school district has not raised taxes since 2018-2019, when it stood at 18.45 mills, according to the budget presentation.